Quick donning harness for oxygen masks



June 26, 1962 R. J. CAROLAN QUICK DONNING HARNESS FOR OXYGEN MASKS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 15, 1958 I INVENTOR. Ra morn/J. C arc/m7 A 7TORNE Y un 26, 1962 R. J. CAR'QLAN 3,040,741

QUICK DONNING HARNESS FOR OXYGEN MASKS Filed Dec. 15, 1958 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Ragmon J Caro/an 3,040,741 QUICK DONNINGHARNESS FOR OXYGEN MASKS Raymond J. Carolan, Prairie Village, Karm,assignor to Puritan Compressed Gas Corporation, Kansas City, Mo., acorporation of Missouri Filed Dec. 15, 1953, Ser. No. 780,468 16 Claims.(Cl. 128146) This invention relates to a mask assembly and moreparticularly, to an improved harness for oxygen masks or the likepermitting the same to be donned in a very short period of time and withonly one hand being required to place the harness over the wearers headwith the mask positioned over his nose and mouth in an operablelocation.

Various types of oxygen or gas masks have heretofore been proposed butthe same have not been entirely satisfactory, principally because of theextended period of time necessary to place the mask in an operableposition over the wearers nose and mouth and furthermore, most usuallyrequiring that both hands be used in placing the mask harness in properposition and then subsequently adjusting such harness to bring the maskinto sealing engagement with the face of the wearer. Forexample, it hasbeen conventional practice to employ straps made of fabric or equivalentmaterial with various types of buckles being employed to permitadjustment of the effective length of the flexible straps and also, topermit the harness to be placed over the wearers head and then tightenedin a manner to force the face mask into proper sealing engagement withthe wearers face. This time consuming operation was oftentimes extremelyhazardous, not only because of the normally immediate need for oxygen orthe like but also necessitating the use of both hands to properly donthe mask, the latter problem being particularly acute when the wearerwas a pilot operating the controls of an airplane. For this reason, manypilots have been forced to wear the oxygen masks at all times, eventhough the same are not needed during certain intervals, to avoid thenecessity of taking both hands from the controls of the plane at thesame time. It can be recognized that this is both uncomfortable andoftentimes entirely unnecessary if the interior of the plane ispressurized and the masks are worn only as safety factors.

It is therefore the most important object of the present invention toprovide an improved harness for oxygen masks or the like which may bedonned through employment of only one of the wearers hands and in aperiod of about two seconds or less.

It is a further important object of the invention to provide a harnessfor masks of the character referred to above having adjustable strapsthereon which are of construction permitting the wearer to preadjust thesame to desired lengths, whereupon the same remain in their adjustedpositions and the mask assembly may be donned in the short perioddefined without subsequent tightening or loosening of the straps beingnecessary.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a quickdonning harness for oxygen masks having improved means thereon forholding the face mask securely and comfortably in sealing engagementwith the wearers face, notwithstanding the fact that no subsequentadjustment of the harness straps is made after placement of the assemblyon the wearers head.

Also an important object of the invention is to provide a harness foroxygen masks permitting the assembly to be donned in a minimum of time,wherein the straps of the harness are constructed to permit the unit tobe utilized by substantially all persons, regardless of head size,

atent 3,040,741 Patented June 26, 1962 ice A further important aim ofthe invention is to provide a harness for oxygen masks wherein one ofthe strap units is swingable to a position in proximal relationship toanother one of the strap units to thereby materially reduce the spaceoccupied by the mask assembly when not in use. I

Other important objects of the invention relate to a harness of the typereferred to above which is adapted to be constructed of materials suchas nylon or the like, thereby lowering the cost of the unit, assuringalong useful life thereof and causing the same to be resistant todeterioration and corrosion; to the provision of a quick donning harnesspermitting face cones of different shapes and sizes to be easily andquickly connected to the harness; to a harness assembly wherein eachindividual may easily adjust the force with which the face mask isbiased into sealing engagement with his face; and to other importantobjects and details of construction of the present harness assemblywhich will be explained more fully or become obvious as the followingspecification progresses.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an oxygenvmask assembly including aquick donning harness as contemplated by the present invention andshowing the unit in operable position on a wearers head;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the harness and face mask on a reducedscale and illustrating the normal position of the same when not beingutilized and thereby suspended from a neck strap around the wearersneck;

FIG. 3 is another perspective View of the harness and face mask shown inFIG. 2 and ona slightly larger scale, the manner in which the mask maybe donned with one hand being clearly shown therein;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, exploded, perspective view of one of theassemblies interconnecting respective ends of certain of the head strapsof the quick donning harness;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, Vertical, crosssectional view takensubstantially on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, horizontal, crosssectional viewtaken substantially on the line 6--6 of FIG. 1 with the face mask beingremoved from the connector on the harness;

- face.

FIG. 7 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken substantially on theline 77 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken on the line 88 of FIG.7. V I

A quick donning mask assembly is illustrated in its preferred form inthe drawings and is designated generally by the numeral 10, the harnessbroadly numerated 12 constituting the subject matter of this invention,while face mask 14 may be of any desired type and preferably one adaptedto fit wearer and having a member 16 of resilient fluid-tight sealperimetrically disposed sealing material adapted to provide a betweenface mask 14 and the wearers Means for releasably connecting face wask14- to harness 12 includes a pair of identical, oppositely ex tending,substantially coaxial, semicylindricalextensions' 18 integral with aperforated valve carrier 20, in turn over only the nose and mouth of themounting face mask 14.

Y Extensions 18 project a substantial distance in opposite directionsfrom carrier 20 and are connected to the lowermost portions ofrespective side straps 22, forming a part of harness 12, by mechanismbroadly designated 24. Each of the side straps 22 is substantiallyS-shaped in longitudinal configuration and has a pair of strap units 26and 28 joined to the normally uppermost ends thereof.

It is contemplated that the principal components of harness 12 be moldedof a synthetic resin material such as nylon which has high strengthcharacteristics, is resistant to cracking, crazing and breakingduring-flexing thereof and therefore, if desired, side straps 22 may bemolded integrally with respective longitudinally' arcuate strips 39 ofrear strap units 26 if desired. In any event, each of the side straps 22has an enlarged head portion 32 at the uppermost end thereof which maybe integral with or securely joined n1 coaxial relationship to anenlarged head portion 34 integral with respective strips of rear strapunit 26; Head portion 34 of each strip 30 has a circular depression 36therein'which may extend completely through corresponding head portions34 if side straps 22 and adjacent strips 30 are molded as one piece. Atubular boss 38 integral with head portion 34 of strip 30 or headportion '32 of strap 22 is disposed centrally within depression 36 incoaxial relationship with head portions 32 and 34, and has a centralbore 40 therethrough in axial alignment with a passage 42 through headportion 32 of each side strap 22 and in direct alignment with anenlarged recess 44 in the outermost face of each head portion 32.

Top strap unit 28 is pivotally secured to both of the side straps 22 andrear strap'unit 26 at the points of interconnection of the latter torespective ends of side straps 22 and in this respect, it is to be notedthat top strap unit 28 includes a pair of elongated strips 46 havingenlarged head portions 48 at one end thereof and including a circulardisc portion 50 of a diametersuch as to permit insertion of each discportion 50 into a respective proximal depression 36 in head portions 34of strips 30. A tubular element 52 integral with each disc portion 50and extending laterally therefrom is adapted to be received within arespective tubular boss 38 when the harness is assembled and discportions 50 are rotatably received within corresponding depressions 36.The internal surface of each tubular element *52 is threaded in a mannerto complementally receive a screw 54 extending into each of the tubularelements 52 through circu-l'ar recesses 44, each of the screws 54preferably being provided with an enlarged head 56 received withinrespective recesses 44 whereby the outermost surface of each screw 54 isfiushwith the outer surface of a corre sponding head portion 32 on sidestraps 22.

Means for limiting swinging movement of top strap unit 28 relative torear strap unit 26 and side straps 22 comprises a semicircular stop 58within each depression 36 and integral with a respectivehead portion 34and in concentric relationship to proximal bosses 38. A laterallyextending projection 60 integral with each of the disc portions 50 isdisposed to engage opposed shoulders 62 and 64 of corresponding stops 58to thereby limit pivoting movement'of top strap unit 28. A coil spring66 surrounding eachtubular element 52 and connected to arespectiveprojection 60 at one end thereof and disposed over shoulder 62 of aproximal stop 58, normally bias strap'unit 28 .to the position thereofillustrated in FIG.- 1 and intermediate rear strap unit 26 and thelongitudinal lengths of side straps 22.

Opposed strips 30 and 46 of rear strap unit 26 and top strap unit 28respectively are disposed with adjacent ends thereof in partiallyoverlapping relationship and received within corresponding flexibletubular members 68 for sliding movement therein. An adjusting knob 70 iscarried by each of the tubular members 68 and has an internally disposedpinion (not shown) engageable with teeth on racks within each ofadjacent, overlapped ends of strips 39 and 46 respectively. In thismanner, by turning knobs in one direction or the other, the overlappingportions of strips 30 and 46 are moved relatively to decrease theeffective length or widen rear strap unit 26 and/ or top strap unit 28.

Each of the side straps 22 is longitudinally arcuate as previouslymentioned and are configured so that when harness 12 is disposed on thewearers head, straps 22 extend from a point above the persons ears to apoint substantially in a horizontal plane through the lower portion ofthe wearers nose, with the intermediate lengths of each of the sidestraps 22 curving around and clearing the wearers ears. Furthermore rearstrap unit 26 extends downwardly at an angle. with respect to sidestraps 22 so as to engage the wearers head substantially at the zone ofjuncture of his neck with the rear portion of his head.

Each of the side straps 22 is provided with a transversely rectangular,tubular element 72 integral with re spective lowermost ends thereof andslidably receiving an elongated, transversely rectangular, tubularmember 74. An extension or connector 76 slidably disposed within each ofthe members 74 normally extends outwardly from the same at the endthereof away from side straps 22, with a substantially semicircularmounting portion 78 being provided on the outer end of each connector 76projecting away from respective tubular members 74. The mountingportions 78 of connectors 76 are releasably secured to the outermostopposed ends of extensions 18 with outer discs 80, coaxial withrespective extensions 18, maintaining connectors 76 in predeterminedpositions relative to extensions 18 by virtue of screws 82 extendingthrough each disc and perforations 84 in corresponding mounting portions78 of connectors 76 and thence into extensions 18. Stop means (notshown) is provided on each extension 18 to limit the extent of pivotingof connectors 76 relative thereto, and the screws 82 may be providedwith spring washer means associated therewith for preventing freeswinging movement of harness 12 relative to extensions 18 and thereby,face mask 14.

In order to permit connectors 7 6 to reciprocate relative to tubularmembers 74, each of the connectors 76 is provided with a pair ofparallel, spaced, longitudinally extending slots 86 presenting anintermediate portion 88 therebetween, with one end 90 of eachintermediate portion 88 being separated from the main body of connectors76 to thereby permit a coil spring 92 to be placed over each of theintermediate portions 88. The ends of coil springs 92 proximal tomounting portions 78 on connectors 76 bear against end walls 94 ofrespective tubular members 74 to thereby bias connectors 76 to theinnermost ends of their paths of travel.

Structure for maintaining tubular members '74 in pre determinedrelationship with respect to tubular elements 72 includes a set screw 96threadably extending through the upper part of each tubular element 72and disposed to engage the upper surface of a proximal tubular member74. Spaced indicia 98 on the normally outermost 'face of each of thetubular members 74 may be successively viewed through an opening 100 ineach tubular element 72 to thereby permit tubular members 74 to beplaced in predetermined locations relative to tubular elements 72.

Similarly, indicia 102 are placed on the outer surfaces of strips 30 and46 of strap units 26 and 28 respectively to permit adjustment of strips30 and 46 to predetermined locations, with indicia 102 being alignedwith outer proximal ends of tubular members 68.

A circular neck strap 104 which is adapted for placement around thepersons neck for suspending mask assembly 10 therefrom has a crossbar108secured thereto and provided with a pair of opposed female snapfasteners 110 and 112 adapted to releasably receive respective malefasteners 114 on the knobs 70 of strap units 26 and 28 respectively.Note that snap fasteners 110 and 112 are disposed a distance to causestrap units 26 and 28 to be located in proximal rela'lionship when malefasteners 114 are releasabiy received within respective female fasteners lit) and 112.

The way in which mask assembly is suspended from the persons neck byneck strap 104 is best shown in FIG. 2, wherein it can be seen that themale fasteners 114 of strap units 26 and 28 are releasably connected tocorresponding fasteners 110' and 112 on crossbar 108. In this position,top strap unit 28 is pivoted to a position adjacent rear strap unit 25,thereby decreasing the overall space occupied by mask assembly 10 duringnonuse of the same and yet, the harness 12 may be readily placed in aposition to be donned at a moments notice when required.

It is contemplated that the person grasp face mask 14.

and valve carrier 20 with one hand, as illustrated in FIG. 3, and thenpull downwardly on mask assembly 10 until fasteners 114 part fromrespective fasteners 11% and 112 to thereby not only release strap units26 and 28 from neck strap 164, but also permitting top strap unit 28 toswing relative to rear strap unit 26 to the position thereof shown inFIG. 3. It can be recognized that top strap unit 28 is swung to theoutermost position thereof under the action of coil springs 66 actingagainst projections 66 and thereby pivoting corresponding disc portions50 within proximal depressions 36 and effecting pivoting of strips 46about the axes of tubular elements 52.

Next, the person lifts mask assembly 19 upwardly and initially placesrear strap assembly 26 in proper position at the zone of juncture of thewearers part of the base of his neck, whereupon face mask 14 is thenpulled downwardly into position over the persons nose and mouth. Topstrap unit 28 limits downward movement of mask 14 when strap unit 28engages the top part of the wearers head. As face mask 14 is swungdownwardly, the person donning the assembly pivots face mask 14 aboutthe axes of screws 82 until face mask 14 is in proper position toprovide a seal against the face of the wearer and furthermore, 'valvecarrier 29 and face mask 14 are pulled outwardly with respect to sidestraps 22 to a location clearing facial projections of the wearer, aswell as appurtenances such as glasses, if the person donning the'mask iswearing devices of this character. Connector 76 may shift relative totubular members 74 against the action of respective coil springs 92,thereby permitting face mask 14 to be moved a considerable distance awayfrom the wearers face as face mask 14 is swung downwardly into operableposition, and donning of mask assembly 10 over glasses or the like isfacilitated by virtue of the fact that side straps '22 are spaced asufficient distance by extensions 18 to maintain harness 12 out ofsubstantial interfering relationship to the defined eyeglasses.

it is contemplated that the wearer initially adjust harness 12 to suithis particular features and once the adjustments have been made, maskassembly 10 may be donned'in a minimum of time and, in most instances,within less than two seconds. Rotation of knobs 70 on tubular members 68increases and decreases the effective length of strap units 26 and 28,while the normal distance of face maskld from strap units 22 may bevaried by shifting tubular members 74 relative to tubular elements 72and then securing tubular members 74 preferably with set screws 96.Another feature of the present harness in this respect tis the factthatcoil'springs 92 bias face mask 14 toward the wearers face andthereby maintain sealing member 16 in tight engagement with the wearersface in surrounding relationship to his nose and mouth.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a quick donning mask assembly provided with a face member forcovering the wearers nose and mouth, the combination with said facemember of a harness inhead with the upper 6 eluding a pair of spaced,relatively rigid side straps, means connecting one end of each of theside straps to respective opposed margins of the face member inpositions causing said side straps to be disposed on opposite sides ofthe wearers face when the assembly is in place thereon,a longitudinallyarcuate rear strap unit joined at opposite ends thereof to correspondingside straps in a position to engage the rear portion of the wearershead, a longitudinally arcuate top strap unit secured at opposite endsthereof to the rear strap unit and said side straps substantially at thepoints of interconnection thereof, said side straps, when the assemblyis in place on the wearers head, being disposed with the upper endsthereof above the wearers ears, on respective sides of his head, andextending downwards into proximity to the nose and mouth of the wearer,said top strap unit being disposed to engage the top portion of thewearers head, one of said strap units being freely swingable from itsnormal position adapted to engage a portion of the wearers head to alocation proximal to the other strap unit for reduc ing the spaceoccupied by said assembly when not in use, and resilient structureconnected to said one strap unit and said other strap unit for normallybiasing said one strap to said normal position thereof.

2. A quick donning mask assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidstructure includes a pair of adjacent, relatively rotatable elements ateach end of said one strap unit, one of the elements of each of saidpair being secured to a respective extremity of said one strap unit andthe other element of each of said pair being secured to said other strapunit and a corresponding side strap, there being a coil springinterconnecting the elements of each of said pair thereof and disposedto bias said one element of each pair in a direction to swing said onestrap unit toward said normal positionthereof.

3. A quick donning mask assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein isprovided interengageable stop means on the elements of each of said pairthereof for preventing said one strap unit from swinging past saidnormal position thereof in a direction away from the other strap unit.

4. A quick donning mask assembly asset forth in claim 1 wherein each ofsaid strap units includes a pair of elongated strips having proximalends thereof in partial overlapping relationship, and mechanismreleasably interconnecting said overlapping ends permitting selectivevariation in the eifective length of each strap unit.

5. A quick donning mask assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein saidmechanism on each of the strap units is located substantiallyintermediate the ends thereof to permit substantially uniform paying outor taking in of said strips during adjustment of the effective length ofeach strap.

6. A quick donning mask assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidside straps lie in a plane disposed at an angle to a plane through saidrear strap unit.

7. quick donning mask assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein theanglebetween said planes through the side straps and said rear strap unitrespectively is less than 180.

8. A quick donning mask assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidrear strap is disposed at an angle relative to said side straps in aposition to normally engage the rear portion of the wearers headsubstantially at the zone of juncture thereof with his neck.

9. A quick donning mask assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidside straps, when the assembly is in place on the wearers head, extenddownwardly and forwardly from the rear and top straps and terminate inhorizontal alignment with the lower parts of the wearers nose, each ofthe side straps being longitudinally curved in directions to clear thewearers ears.

10. In a quick donning mask assembly provided with a face member, thecombination with said face member of a harness including a pair ofspaced relatively rigid,

normally downwardly extending side straps adapted to be positioned onopposite sides of the wearers face in positions with the lower.extremities thereof in proximity to the nose and mouth of the wearer,,alongitudinally arcuate rear strap unit joined at opposite ends thereofto, the upper extremities of corresponding side straps in a position toengage the rear portion'of the wearers head, cross means connected tosaid upper extremities of the side straps and adapted to engage theupper part of the wearers head for limiting downward movement of theside straps as the assembly is donned, and structure shifta'oly mountingsaid face member on the lower portions of said side straps in spannnigrelationship thereto for normally horizontal movement toward and awayfrom said side straps whereby the face member may be shifted away fromthe side straps to a position clearing facial projections or articlesover the wear ers face during donning of the assembly, said structureincluding resilient means coupled to said side straps and the facemember and normally biasing the face member toward said sidestraps.

11. A quick donning mask assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein saidstructure includes oppositely projecting extensions on said face member,a tubular element secured to the lower part of each of the side strapsand extending forwardly therefrom, a connector joined to each of theextensions and telescoped within a respective proximal tubular element,and spring means within each of said tubular elements, engaging thelatter and a respective connector, and disposed to bias said connectorsand thereby the face member toward said side straps.

12. A quick donning mask assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein saidtubular elements are slidably mounted on respective side straps, therebeing means on each of the side straps releasably maintaining theelements in predetermined positions relative to corresponding sidestraps.

13. A quick donning mask assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein isprovided means pivotally joining the connectors to respective extensionson the face member.

' 14. In a quick donning mask assembly provided with a face member, thecombination with said face member of a harness including a pair ofspaced'side straps, means connecting one end of each of the side strapsto respective opposed margins of the face member in positions causingsaid side straps to be disposed on opposite sides of the wearers headwhen the assembly is in place thereon,'a longitudinally arcuate rearstrap unit joined at opposite ends thereof to corresponding side strapsin a position to engage the rear portion of the wearers head, alongitudinally arcuate top strap unit secured at opposite ends thereofto the rear strap unit and said side straps substantially at the pointsof interconnection thereof, said top strap unit being disposed to engagethe top portion of the wearers head, one of said strap units beingswingable from its normal position adapted to engage a portion of thewearers head to a location proximal to the other strap unit for reducingthe space occupied by said assembly when not in use, coupling means forreleasably interconnecting said one strap unit and the other strap unitwhen the same are in proximal relationship anda neck strap releasablyconnected to one of said strap units for suspending the assembly fromthe Wearers neck while said one strap unit and the other strap unit areinterconnected by said coupling means and prior to use of the assembly.

15. A quick donning mask assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein saidneck strap is releasably connected to both of said strap units with saidtop strap unit releavably maintained in said location thereof proximalto said rear strap unit.

16. A quick donning mask assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein isprovided, a quick release snap fastener interconnecting said neck strapand said one strap unit connected thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSFOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain 1914 Great Britain Sept. 27, 1937

